Counterbalance for pumping rigs



May 26, 1931. F. GRAHAM 1,807,337

COUNTERBALANCE FOR PUMPING RIGS Filed Feb. 5, 1928 at, rear h GRAHAM, 03E L'UFKIN, TEXAS, ASSIGNUR TO LUFKIN FOUNPBY 8c MACHINE CUM- PANY, F LUFKIN, TEXAS COUNTERBALANCE FOR PUREPING RIGS My invention relates to means for use on a pumping rig to counterbalance the weight of the. pump rods and the load carried thereby.

In pumping deep wells for oil, water and in: the like, the standard rig is often employed. In such a rig the pump rods, piston and its load of-fiuid is raised and lowered by means of a walking beam to one end of which the rods are attached. The walking beam is to rocked by means of a pitman connected with a rotating crank arm. Where the load is heavy, as in deep wells, the upward stroke of the pump is the power stroke, the load dropping by gravity on the down stroke. The jerk or strain exerted by the load upon the rods on the down stroke is sometimes severe and means must be taken to counterbalance this drop and to assist in raising the load thereafter.

It is an object of my invention to provide a counterbalance weight which may be attached to the pitman of the operating rig and be capable of connection with the crank arm when the pump is operating.

It is desired that the weight be capable of ready attachment or detachment from the crank arm. when desired.

Referring to the drawings herewith, wherein a preferred embodiment of my'invention is I an illustrated, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the type of weight used as a counterbalance, the pitman being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the counterweight; and v dd shown in position upon a pitman as used upon the ordinary pumping rig.

The view shown in Fig. 1 illustrates the equipment with which the counterbalance is particularly designed to operate, it being understood, however, that it may be employed on other similar devices. The walking beam 1 is shown as supported upon the usual Samson post 2, the walking beam being operated through a p-itman 3 connected to a wrist pin a secured within one of the openings 5 in a crank arm 6. Said crank arm is secured upon a shaft 7 mounted in jack posts 8 upon a supporting platfnrm 9. Said jack posts are reinforced by brace rods 10 in the usual t ll Fig. 3 is a front elevation of my device manner and adapted to depend below the end of said pitman. The shaft 7 is adapted to be rotated through a band wheel 11 secured on said shaft and acting as a pulley for the usual belt drive employed with this type of pump ing outfit. It is to be understood that the forward broken end of the walking beam is secured to the pump rod in the usual manner, this being the ordinary standard pumping rig well known in the art and forming in itself no part of my invention.

In order to counterbalance the heavy load of the pump rods and the piston and fluid above the same 1 contemplate placing adjacent the lower end of the pitman 3 a counterbalance weight indicated generally at A. This counterbalance weight is made up of an upper yoke member 12 which has two arms spaced apart a suliicient distance to fit about the pitman. As shown in Fig. 1, the pitman 3 has a lower U-shaped bearing support 15 to house the two bearing blocks 16 through which the wrist pin opening is formed. The

upper yoke member 12 is widened out toward a the lower end and formed with longitudinal openings therethrough to receive bolts 17. There is also a lower plate 18 at the opposite end of the bolts 17'pr0vided with openings to receive said bolts. Between the plates 18 and 12 I may place a'plurality of plates 19 forming weights and, as will be obvious, the number of weights secured on the bolts 17 in the manner shown may be varied to accommodatethe particular pumping equipment upon which it is used. In deep wells where the load is heavy a large number of such weights may be employed. I

The upper yoke 12 of the counterbalance weight is secured to the pitman by means of a through bolt 20, extending through the arms of the yoke 12 and transversely through the pitman. This bolt secures the weight firmly to the pitman in such a manner as to interfere in no way with the engagement of the pitman withthe wrist pin upon the crank arm.

In operating a pumping equipment provided with rnv counterbalance, the weights will be placed upon the lower ends of the pitman in such a way as to be supported upon is done, the weight is removed from the crankthe wrist pin and the crank arm and in such manner that on the upstroke of the pump rods the weight will assist in the raising of the rod and in the downstroke of the pump rods the crank will be moving upwardly and the counterbalance weightwill resist the sudden dropping of the .load of the pump rods. In this manner an even and balanced action upon the power will be obtained and a smooth operation of the pump will result.

It is necessary to remove the pump rods and plunger from the well at intervals for repair and in so doing the pitman is disengaged from the crank arm and the band wheel is used to transmit power to the hoisting device for raising the rods. When this arm by releasing the same from the wrist is rotating in performing the hoisting operation. It will act to hold the pitman and walking beam in stationary position so that no interference of the same with the hoisting I operations will be experienced. When it is thereafter desired to resume pumping operation, the counterbalance may be raised and the pitman secured upon the crank arm in the manner described.

. The advantages of my construction lie in the attachment of the counterbalance .weight a to the pitman where it may be readily removed from the crank arm of the power. when not needed, and when thus removed will be out of the way and assist in the holding of the pitman and walking beam. It serves,

therefore, not only as a counterbalance but as a holding means to anchor the pitma-n and walking beam when the pump is not oper ated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a pumping rig or the like, a rotatable power shaft, a crank arm thereon, a walking beam, a pitman connected with said walking beam and to said crank arm, a yoke secured to the lower end of said pitman, and a plurality of plates secured detachably to said yoke to form a variable weight upon said pitman.

2. In a pumping rig or the like, a rotatable power shaft, a crank arm thereon, a walking beam, a pitman connected with said walking beam and to said crank arm, a yoke secured to the lower end of said pitman, and a plurality of plates secured detachably to said yoke to form a. variable weight upon said pitman, said weight being detachable with said pitman from said crank arm.

3. In a pumping rigor the like, a rotatable power shaft, a crank arm thereon, a walking beam, a pitman connected with said walking beam and to said crank arm, a yoke-secured to said pitman, and a plurality of plates semember, means engageable with the body and one of said members for retaining the bearing element in functioning position, and a weight element attached to the body member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature this 25th day of January, A. D.

- FRED GRAHAM. 

